The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has declared that the practice of Shariah in Nigeria is divinely mandated and central to Muslim life, warning that no external power can compel Nigerian Muslims to abandon it.
The council’s Secretary-General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad, made this known in a statement responding to a recent report by United States lawmakers.
The US lawmakers, including Riley Moore and Chris Smith, had investigated alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Their report, submitted to President Donald Trump, recommended repealing Shariah and blasphemy laws, creating a US–Nigeria security pact, and imposing penalties or visa bans on those accused of violating religious freedom.
However, the SCSN said the report wrongly depicts Nigeria as a site of “Christian genocide” and unfairly challenges what it described as the inalienable right of Nigerian Muslims to practise Shariah.
“Shariah constitutes a comprehensive way of life for Muslims, encompassing spiritual, moral, social, and legal dimensions. It is the divinely ordained framework through which Muslims regulate their personal and communal affairs,” the council said.
The statement added that Shariah practice in Nigeria is safeguarded by the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and allows individuals to manage personal matters according to their faith.
It noted that Shariah courts operate legally within these constitutional provisions and warned that any attempt to criminalise, delegitimise, or externally dictate Shariah practice threatens Nigeria’s sovereignty and religious freedom.
The council rejected foreign interference, cautioning that simplistic and biased narratives could inflame tensions, deepen mistrust, and undermine peaceful coexistence.
It also dismissed the “Christian genocide” narrative as false, arguing that Nigeria’s security crisis affects both Muslims and Christians and is driven by terrorism, banditry, organised crime, and governance challenges.
“The council unequivocally condemns all killings across Nigeria, mourns every innocent life lost, and rejects politicisation of human suffering,” it said, urging authorities to take decisive action to end insecurity and restore public confidence through justice and accountability.
As Muslims observe Ramadan, the SCSN called on the Ummah to intensify prayers and righteous acts, remain law-abiding, and continue to live peacefully with all Nigerians.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us. Our faith is not negotiable, our Constitution is clear, and our sovereignty must be respected by other nations and protected by our government,” the council added.